The Hairlessness Norm Extended: Reasons for and Predictors of Women's Body Hair Removal at Different Body Sites

摘要

The study aimed to explore the motivationsbehind and predictors of the practice of body hair removalamong women. A sample of 235 Australian femaleundergraduate students completed questionnaires askingabout the frequency and reasons for body hair removal, aswell as measures of media exposure. It was confirmed thatthe vast majority (approximately 96%) regularly removetheir leg and underarm hair, most frequently by shaving,and attribute this to femininity and attractiveness reasons. Asizeable proportion (60%) also removed at least some oftheir pubic hair, with 48% removing most or all of it. Herethe attributions were relatively more to sexual attractivenessand self-enhancement. Further, having a partner andexposure to particular forms of media predicted pubic hairremoval. It was concluded that pubic hair removal iscurrently different in connotation from leg or underarmhair, but is likely to be on the increase. It can only furtherthe belief that women's bodies are unacceptable the waythey are.